The Joint Select Committee of Parliament which has been looking at the proceeds of crime bill is expected to meet again on Wednesday at Gordon House.

The bill aims to address deficiencies in the Drug Offences (Forfeiture of Proceeds) Act which contains provisions for forfeiture and is aimed at divesting criminals of illegally obtained wealth, as well as repeal the Money Laundering Act to effect more comprehensive legislation to deal with the rinsing of money.

It is one of the primary legislative weapons being sought by the police to fight major crime dons, including drug traffickers, by conferring on the police the authority to confiscate property.

Chairman of the committee, Dr Peter Phillips, advised the initial meeting in November, that the local bill did not seek to replicate the United States RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations) Act, which was aimed at destroying the Sicilian Mafia.

He said that, instead of concentrating on capturing the proceeds of crime, it would seek to criminalise association with criminal organisations.

In fact, he said that Jamaica was looking more in the direction of the United Kingdom and its Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, which spawned the UK’s Assets Recovery Agency (ARA). Phillips suggested that experts from ARA might be invited to address the committee.

balfordh@jamaicaobserver.com